“Art is a place for children to learn to trust their ideas, themselves, and to explore what is possible,” says MaryAnn F. Kohl, former elementary art teacher, college educator and now author and publisher of award-winning art activity books for children. Kohl, and many other educators, like Rebecca Costello, Jefferson Morgan Elementary Art Teacher, understand the importance of art and creativity in the development of young minds. Art helps in the growth of motor skills, social skills, language skills, problem-solving skills, and creativity.
At Jefferson-Morgan, fostering those skill sets and creativity is an essential part of education. As part of their art program, the elementary students, excited about showcasing what they learned over the year, came together to put on their very first elementary art show in April. The art show showcased student from Pre-K to sixth grade, and every student had at least one piece in the show. Over 1,000 pieces of art were available for viewing.
Elementary art teacher Rebecca Costello proposed the art show idea to Principal Samuel Silbaugh, Superintendent Brandon Robinson, and the school board. They met the idea with enthusiasm and support. Title IV Federal Funding was allocated to fund the event, and volunteers from the Jefferson-Morgan PTO assisted. Other support for the event came from many corners: Buchtan’s Big Balloons donated a rainbow balloon arch, and teachers, staff, and community members donated raffles baskets. What’s Smokin’ BBQ truck was on hand for dinner.
Students spent the week before the event preparing the exhibit and putting the final touches on their work. The 6th Grade Art Club completed beautiful projects and met once a month after school to prepare for the event. The students created a multitude of projects in many media: pottery projects, paintings on canvas on a grand scale, painted ceiling tiles were displayed in classrooms, resin crafts, recycled materials artwork, collages, and more. Other projects include a ‘Kindness Village’ with positive affirmations displayed in the small town’s backdrop. The ‘Winter Garden’ used local river rock and acrylic paints.
The art show brought in family, friends, teachers, and other community members interested in seeing the elementary students’ creativity. Students were proud to present their work to the community and explained their work to attendees. Besides showcasing the students’ creativity, the funds raised at the event support future Art Club activities and projects like future art shows.
The school plans to continue the event next year bigger and better: “Because of the overwhelmingly positive response in both attendance and donations to the JM Elementary Art Show, and the tremendous support from the JM PTO, this event is in the planning stages for next year. There are already new ideas to keep the show fresh for the students and an even bigger event is in the works for next school year.”
“The warmth, positivity and pride that was felt by all during the Art Show is something that I want my students to experience every single year,” Costello says. “I feel so happy for them that this first Art show was such a special event. They deserve it.”